The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-06-17

opinion tnat Tue return Of tue llage In the
manner thus contemplated Is not authoriz.
ed by existing laws, nor justified US an
executive act, request, therefore, that no
further steps be taken In the matter eI.
cept to examine and take an inventory Of
these tlags and adopt proper measures for
their preservation. Any direction as to
the final disposition OF them should origi.
nate with Congress. "
Yours Truly, E %
[Slgned] GROVER CLEVELAND
ADJUTANT GENERAL DRUM
Relates How the Order. Originated for the
Return of the Flags.
D. G., June l6.-As stated
In theee dispatches 1t has been deter.
mined, upon the recommendation OF
Adiutant.G General Drum, Of the army,
to return to the Southern States all
their flags, ataudarda and colors which
were captured by the Union army during
the late war.
Tbs formal announcement OF the pur.
poee Of the administration in the matter,
is contained the following circular letter
which has been addressed by tho Adju.
tant General Of the army t. the Governor
OF each State: .i
"sIR:-The President Of the United
States having approved tho recommends
ton that all the flags in the custody OF the
War Department bs returned to the au-
thorities Of the respective States in which
the regiments which bore them were or.
ganized for auch final disposition as they
may determine. I am instructed by the
Honorable Secretary of War to make you
lin the name of the War Department. q
tender OF the Gags now in this Office, be-
longing to the late volunteer organiz,-
tions OF the State Of -.
In discharging this pleasant duty I beg
you will please advise ma Of your wishes
in the matter. 1t is the intention, in re-
turning each flag, to give its history as far
as it is possible to do SO, stating tho cir
cumstances OF iss capture and recovery.
l have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your obsdient servant, tlGtafl
R G. DRUn, Adjutant General. 4.
Referring TO the issuanca Of the circu-
lar, General Drum sayB: ."We are going to
return tho aigs to all the States, North
and South, and am now having full lists
made OF all these trophies in possession OF
the Department. In short time we shall
have the whole collection 80 assorted and
separated that we shall be ready to for
ward to every State in the Union what.
ever flags belonging to State volunteers
fell into the hands OF the Federal army
and into the possession Of the War De-
partment. am having complete inven-
tory OF them made out with statemente to
tell briefly, as far as known, the history OF
each trophy and the story Of how it came
to be captured. All this literature will be
completed and the trophies will be ready
to be forwarded to their owners in few
days."
Is General Drum, when asked il the Presi-
dent expressed his approval OF this propo-
sition in writing, did not givs q direct
answer, but intimated that when the liat
Of flags returned and their histories were
given to the public letter from President
Cleveland on the subject might alao be
made public. - ~
a. GENERAL DRUMS EXPLANATION.
General Drum, during the conrse Of
further conversation on the eubjsct, said:
""This action is not due to any pressure
nor any suggestion from outside. It had
been in contemplation in tho Department
for BONE considerable time. You see,
every now and then We were receiving in
quirics from various States about the flags
in which they were particularly interest,"
ed, and requests to have them returned.
These requests generally ca 10 from
Northern States, and from time to time rs
tho requents were msde they were graft.
fed. at length it occurred.to the depart.
ment officials that 1t would be good
thing to return them all at once. The law
relating 10 lsgs captured from the enemies
OF the United Gtatss did not apply to haga
taken In tho civil var. On April Is, 1914,
after The last war with England, Congress
peaecd an act providing that The Score.
tary Of War shall, from timo to time, cause
to bs collected and transmitted to him at
the seat Of Government all srch hsgs,
standards and colors as are taken by the
army from the enemies Of the United
Sta,es.' ts55'i:. s-
"But 1t was never intended that flags
taken in internecine strife should be
treated like trophies captured from for.
eign enemy. 1t has never been done. II
would servo no good purpose 10 treasure
up these things and display them to
perpetual slront aad insult to men who
are now good, loyal American citizans.
The Uuion, the obi jacs for %hioh the men
Of the North fought co well, Is now secpre.
ly established. 1t is the dosire OF every
patriot 10 see tho last ray OF sectional feel
ing e1sinpuiahed and obliterateds soon as
possible; and the Presidents action In
having these Gags returned to their priei.
nal owner is, l think, Q very graceful end
very wise declaration Of this sentiment on
the pa.t OF the government" %S 4;
The Adiutant General asserts that there
Is nothing 10 the statutes which could be
conRtrusd ss bar 70 the action. The
legal points in the CAGE ware carefully
considered before General Drum sub.
mitted his recommendation, and tho Pres.
ident, it is said, was fully satisfied, bslore
Issuing the authority to MAKE the return
that there WAS nothing illsga, In tho &C.
ton. The flags number nearly three nun
dyed. AL show signs Of the rayages oil
war and many are go riddled that 1t will
be difficult % determine TO what regi.
ments or States they he)onsed." 2l'fT.
Z Considerable e1citemoltwar oscasioned
here to-day by the action Of Genera!
Boyrtou, who at noon proceeded to the
City Hall 10 carry out the instructions
received last niRht iro@ Governor For
aker, of Ohio, 90 To institute proceedings
to enjoin tbs retnrn Of tho rebel flags
which were captured By Ohio troops
55 Forakor's Level Head. ajg
CoLvNsps, o /, June; ;16.-The Governor
tonight, In response to inquiries from the
East asking bis opinion Of Presidean,
Oleyeland's order to return the captured
flags, and whether the veterans Of Ohio
would willingly part with the trophies OF
their victories, sent the following:
III could stand their rehabilitation Of JET
J erson Davis, and the joining ot him ens